City Council to vote on Hixson development tonight

A controversial 190-acre development proposal comes to a vote tonight at Chattanooga City Council, marking the culmination of a process more than a year in the making and posing potential for a significant change to the Hixson community.

Tuesday's vote comes one week after the council voted 8-1 to defer the ordinance, citing the need for more time to more thoroughly review the proposal.

Developers with Scenic Land Company are hoping that Chattanooga Village, a $100 million multiuse development promising 280 apartments and up to 750,000 square feet of retail and office space, will be approved by the city's legislative body. Opposition to the proposal has been strong, from both members of the surrounding community, environmental groups and purportedly a competing development company from nearby.

The vacant tract of land is located along Highway 153, near Boy Scout Road in Hixson.

Council members will also vote Tuesday on a resolution allowing Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield to enter an interlocal agreement for the construction and operation of a $4 million firing range, slated to be built on East 11th Street. Last week, the Hamilton County Commission voted to approve $1.5 million for the new range, which will be shared among city, county and federal law enforcement agencies.

The new indoor facility will replace the current outdoor shooting range, located on Moccasin Bend.